02-13-2025, 05:02 PM
Still Brain Fog and Exhausted - Want to try to get off CPAP
Hi everyone,
It's been a year-and-a half since I started the CPAP journey. I learned pretty quickly that I need to use a full-face mask. I've periodically gone back to nasal or pillow masks, but the mouth leaking still happens (though is generally less than when I first started). Mouth tape works, if I can tolerate it, but I wind up with a lot of brain fog and cognitive issues on many days when I do that and just use pillow or nasal mask. But every single full face mask leaks like crazy, wakes me up all the time with the leaks, and leaves my face swollen all over, looking like I was beat up. So, with the exception of random periods here and there where I had restful sleep, it has been a nightly battle since August of 2023. I'm always tired, always have low energy, and many days still have cognitive symptoms that impact my memory and my ability to do my job well.
This led me to seriously start exploring what I need to do to get off of this horrible thing. I am not grossly overweight, but I know that any excess weight does go around my neck and face, so I have been trying to shed about 10-15 pounds. I also bought Snore-RX and tried it for a few nights. My wife said that she did not hear me snore when I used it, but immediately I noticed bigger cognitive issues after about 3-4 days of using it every night.
So I tried using the Snore-RX AND my CPAP mask. Worked like a charm at first. AHI of 0.0-0.3 most nights. Leak problem solved because my jaw does not slide back when I roll onto my back. The required pressure is also much, much less, usually peaking around 14, whereas without the Snore-RX it would be up to 17. But alas... this solution has also seemed short-lived. I have noticed brain-fog, tiredness, memory, and cognitive issues returning, again. I have no idea what could be causing it, because my AHI scores are almost 0 every single night with this setup. I do wake-up with my heart racing some nights, noticing I'm on my back. So I am wondering if perhaps the Snore-RX is blocking the response ability of the machine to detect apneas because it obscures my mouth opening? No idea.
Anyway, I have two questions: Does anyone know why I can still be having brain-fog and memory issues even with CPAP? Any thoughts on adding the adjunct Snore-RX and why the cognitive issues have been sneaking back in after a few weeks of this? IT's maddening to not be able to think straight and not have the energy to work 8 hour days.
Second question, has anyone ever successfully gotten off CPAP? I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, but I am certain it is worse now because of CPAP. Yet because my last sleep study was before CPAP, I do not qualify for Inspire.
It's been a year-and-a half since I started the CPAP journey. I learned pretty quickly that I need to use a full-face mask. I've periodically gone back to nasal or pillow masks, but the mouth leaking still happens (though is generally less than when I first started). Mouth tape works, if I can tolerate it, but I wind up with a lot of brain fog and cognitive issues on many days when I do that and just use pillow or nasal mask. But every single full face mask leaks like crazy, wakes me up all the time with the leaks, and leaves my face swollen all over, looking like I was beat up. So, with the exception of random periods here and there where I had restful sleep, it has been a nightly battle since August of 2023. I'm always tired, always have low energy, and many days still have cognitive symptoms that impact my memory and my ability to do my job well.
This led me to seriously start exploring what I need to do to get off of this horrible thing. I am not grossly overweight, but I know that any excess weight does go around my neck and face, so I have been trying to shed about 10-15 pounds. I also bought Snore-RX and tried it for a few nights. My wife said that she did not hear me snore when I used it, but immediately I noticed bigger cognitive issues after about 3-4 days of using it every night.
So I tried using the Snore-RX AND my CPAP mask. Worked like a charm at first. AHI of 0.0-0.3 most nights. Leak problem solved because my jaw does not slide back when I roll onto my back. The required pressure is also much, much less, usually peaking around 14, whereas without the Snore-RX it would be up to 17. But alas... this solution has also seemed short-lived. I have noticed brain-fog, tiredness, memory, and cognitive issues returning, again. I have no idea what could be causing it, because my AHI scores are almost 0 every single night with this setup. I do wake-up with my heart racing some nights, noticing I'm on my back. So I am wondering if perhaps the Snore-RX is blocking the response ability of the machine to detect apneas because it obscures my mouth opening? No idea.
Anyway, I have two questions: Does anyone know why I can still be having brain-fog and memory issues even with CPAP? Any thoughts on adding the adjunct Snore-RX and why the cognitive issues have been sneaking back in after a few weeks of this? IT's maddening to not be able to think straight and not have the energy to work 8 hour days.
Second question, has anyone ever successfully gotten off CPAP? I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, but I am certain it is worse now because of CPAP. Yet because my last sleep study was before CPAP, I do not qualify for Inspire.
